A small clinical trial has shown that chewing gum enriched with nitrate reduces gum bleeding in people with mild gum disease. The gum promotes beneficial mouth bacteria while curbing harmful ones. Researchers say it offers a simple addition to standard oral care.
Researchers led by Shawn Green at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in West Carson, California, tested a nitrate-enriched chewing gum on 30 adults with mild gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Participants chewed the gum for at least 15 minutes, three times a day, over three weeks while maintaining their usual oral hygiene and diets. The study compared this to an identical-tasting gum without nitrate. In the nitrate group, gum bleeding dropped from 26 percent of probed areas at the start to 15 percent by the end, a clinically meaningful reduction, according to Praveen Sharma at the University of Birmingham, UK, who was not involved in the research. The control group saw no change. Saliva analysis showed increased levels of bacteria that convert nitrate into nitric oxide, alongside reduced harmful plaque-formers like Porphyromonas gingivalis. Gingivitis arises from plaque buildup causing gum inflammation and bleeding; untreated, it can advance to periodontitis, risking abscesses and tooth loss. Prior work linked nitrate-rich foods like leafy greens and beetroot to less inflammation via anti-inflammatory bacteria, but the gum provides an accessible alternative. Francesco D’Aiuto at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UK, called the results a good proof of concept. He urged larger trials to check long-term effects and potential for severe cases. The findings appear in a medRxiv preprint.
